2002 Jeep Liberty problems
The 2002 Jeep Liberty has 2,330 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (24%) concerns air bags. After that come suspension (23%) and fuel system (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 2,330 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 24% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 220 and 29
- Injuries and deaths
- 246 and 7
- Typical mileage
- 82,000 miles 1,331 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 92 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 119 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 209 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 208 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 173 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 169 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 135 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 100 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 66 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 31 |
| 200k+ miles | 29 |
What the data shows
Among the 1,331 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 82,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 115,000 miles (261 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 220 complaints mention a crash; 29 complaints mention a fire; 246 injuries reported; 7 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the Jeep Liberty with enough data (912 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 8 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I bought a 2002 jeep liberty in mid-april of 2005. I told a number of people that the jeep frightened me when driving because it felt like the steering was loose and like the jeep was skating on the road. After driving the jeep over 2 1/2 weeks I had a tragic accident lost of steering control.
2002 jeep liberty suddenly accelerated at 10 miles in small parking lot to full throttle at maximum speed rear brakes spinning, and smoke from rear, brakes failed lasted 2 seconds; violent sudden acceleration causing fatal accident. Driving with 20yrs of clean spotless driving record. Jeep totaled, no airbag deployed. 10/4/14. Severe injuries; critical injuries.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 jeep liberty. While driving between 5-10 MPH, the front passenger side of the vehicle dropped. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The fender well was damaged. The vehicle was previously repaired for NHTSA campaign id number 06v288000 (suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint) at approximately 20,000 miles. The current and failure mileages were 65,000.
The left front brake hose corroded (metal part) and broke near the the crimp fitting. Corrosion was not visible due to rubber sheave covering the crimp fitting connecting the hose to the metal line part.